We
just wanted to let you know that we have delivered a healthy baby
girl. Addyson Jo Brauer was born September 21 at 2:16 pm. She weighed 7
pounds 6 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. I have to tell you that
this was by far the best birth experience I have had. I didn't even
feel like I gave birth! I wasn't tired at all, instead very energized.
I started having surges that morning like I always had every day for
the past couple of weeks. Jason went to work and I proceeded to go back
to bed to get extra rest. I figured if they were the real thing, they
would wake me up. I had had a few mornings where they had woke me up
but they never amounted to anything. At 10:30 am, I let Jason know that
I was pretty sure this was it so he needed to come home. When he got
home, we got last minute stuff together and then he had me start to
listen to the birth affirmations cd. We had decided to have an anchor
of him rubbing my belly which worked really well. We called our Doula
around 11am and worked on relaxation while we waited for her to get
here. Our Doula got here around 12:30pm and fed Jaydon while Jason
helped me. Then they switched jobs. Jason then finished up the packing
and loaded up the van. We decided to call the clinic to let them know
we were coming in around 1:30pm. They told us to just go to the
hospital and they would let the doctor know. When we got down to the
van, I lifted my leg to get in the backseat and I could feel her right
there so I started to tense up because I knew if I didn't we wouldn't
make it to the hospital. I had a hard time relaxing in the van because
of feeling her head so low and being worried we wouldn't make it but I
did my best for the 10 minute drive. When we got there, our Doula got a
wheelchair and headed up to the birthing center while Jason parked the
van. We arrived at the birthing center at 2pm. They got us in the room
and our Doula helped get me in the bed. We got my clothes off my lower
half and I had to get in bed without changing anything else. The
nurses were busy getting the things done they had to do such as running
the strip and getting the table ready. The nurse checked me and I was
7-8. My water broke and 2 minutes later I could feel her coming so the
nurse checked again and said to have the doctor come quickly. The nurse
didn't even get her second glove on as the baby's head was coming out.
My mom came in the room and saw her head be delivered and someone came
in right behind her and saw the feet. That's how quickly she was born!
It lasted 16 whole minutes! The only time I felt any pain was when I
got out of my relaxation. The doctor didn't even make it there, she was
4 minutes too late. She walked into the room and looked so
disappointed because she missed it. She couldn't believe I was smiling
and laughing after just giving birth a few minutes ago. When she
checked me the next day she said she had patients that were really
interested in the HypnoBirthing and that she was anxious for me to get
certified to teach it. I had told her that if this worked for me, I had
every intention of learning how to teach and she remembered that. She
also said that if she got pregnant again, she was coming to me because I
made it look easy. So I guess besides telling you our birth story, I
also would like to find out how to become a HypnoBirthing teacher like
you. I have so many people who are full of envy over the 16 minute
labor we had and both of us are just in awe of our birth story. We have
you to thank for it! I can't wait to hear back from you. Thank you
again Kerstin!
Jason and Valli Brauer
Update: Valli is now a certified HB practitioner! Congratulations Valli!
The birth story:
It
seemed like we were in labor on Monday morning (1-5 am). Then at 5am
my husband, (N) said something about going to the hospital and it all
stopped. We made a pact to not say the H word anymore. Tuesday, was
the scheduled induction. Tuesday 1-5am it again seemed like labor. It
slowed as we came to the time to go to the hospital. N called the Dr. and we decided to take the relaxed approach and skip the
induction--see if not saying the H word and focusing on relaxing would
get things moving again. I think we did the Castor Oil a 3rd time and
N took me for a walk (ended up being 6 miles--wear good shoes when
you walk with my husband). It all seemed like early labor--30 hours of
it. At 1 am things intensified a bit--nothing scripts, a bath, and some
squatting couldn't get me through.
I remember wanting contractions 4 min apart for 2 hours before going to
the hospital—it was written on some piece of paper I had from my doctor.
I complained about all the gas I was having and how it wasn't
mentioned in any of the books I'd read for either pregnancy. N said,
in an overly calm voice, that it was time to go to the hospital. I
started to argue about not having the 4 min apart contractions for 2
hours and he bribed me saying I could be in a nice deep tub at the
hospital (mine was quite shallow at home). I willingly waddle out to the
car. I was ½ way there and thought squatting was a good idea for a
contraction.
We
made it to the hospital. N ran to get a wheelchair and then ran me
up to the wrong floor. Back in the elevator and down to the right floor.
My back was killing me at this point (car rides are horrid when you are
in labor), so I screamed something about it not being very comfortable.
Husbands should not laugh at their wives when they are in labor—we grab
a fist full of beard for the next contraction.
The
folks at the sign in desk sent us right into a room; no triage needed.
There were about 30 people in the room—screaming husbands apparently
bring them running. My doctor showed up—still not sure how she knew we
were coming; maybe the husband deserves some credit for calling (I think
they might have been talking on the phone all day, but keeping it
quiet). 25 random medical folks cleared out. Some nurse said she wanted
to do something to me—I might have rudely told her to back off or
growled at her and then proceeded to squat at the end of the bed. There
is this great handle on the end of a bed you can use for support. Dr. managed to get under the bed a bit to make sure we were complete
and the baby was headed out.
More
than anything my back was bugging me. Nothing else seemed to matter.
Dr. tried to talk me into hands and knees, but I was not accepting
suggestions. Would have been the best suggestion to accept or remember
polar bear from class, though. I ended up on the bed somehow. 30 min
after making it to the hospital front door, baby was born. He was a
sunny side up 9 lb 3 oz baby, blue eyes staring at the doctor. Doctor
said to be grateful for his position; it kept him from being born in the
car, but it was the source of the back ache and a few bruises.
Overall, I was much happier with this 2nd
birth. We were thankfully able to avoid interventions this time and had
no complications. I'd have liked to have skipped the car ride and
hospital--maybe next time. Recovery has been much quicker: We left the
hospital a day early and I took my daughter to ballet class 2 days after
that. Nursing was a ton easier the 2nd time around, too.
Thoughts on HypnoBirthing:
Great
for the early labor/transition phases--though if I ever hear that
rainbow relaxation script again I will snap the CD. Next time I'd have
more scripts to switch things up a bit. Also, we should have practiced
more as a couple--we got busy and I was more attached to Marie's voice
than N :).
Breathing
the baby down--I have no idea how people do this. I tried, but got to a
point where no one could stop me or my body from pushing.
Last
bit did hurt, might have been because he flipped (from ideal
position--as he'd been on Friday) to full OP. Though the pain is
something that has faded in my memory and was worth the intervention
free easy breathing labor. It hurt in my back and tailbone. I'd
definitely characterize it as more of a bad sprain than a fracture pain.
The most interesting part to me was that I tore and would not have
known if Dr. hadn't talked about it as she stitched me up. I had
not expected to not feel a tear.
I'd probably practice
next time in polar bear and a few other positions. I was very attached
to my side-lying, but I think that was because I'd done all my
practicing in that position.
Husband was much more relaxed this go-round which made me more relaxed.
- 2nd time mom